HomepageStaying in the Netherlands
If you intend to stay in the Netherlands for some time or permanently for your business, you must fulfil a number of conditions. The conditions applicable to you depend on your country of origin.
Residence permit
If you come from a European Economic Area (EEA) Member State or Switzerland, you do not require a residence permit in the Netherlands. It is advisable to register with the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), however, because some organisations/agencies may require IND registration. If you come from another country, then you usually need a residence permit from the IND in order to work as a self-employed employee. You can find the conditions for obtaining a residence permit after completing the Residence Wizard of the IND. One of the conditions is that your business activity has an 'essential Dutch economic goal’. A point system is applied in order to determine this, which includes the components ‘personal experience’, ‘business plan’ and ‘added value for the Netherlands’.
Visa or provisional residence permit
Before you can apply for a residence permit, you usually require a provisional residence permit (machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf, MVV). This is a special visa to grant entry into the Netherlands. It is only intended for people who wish to stay for more than 90 days in the Netherlands. You can find out whether this obligation applies to you by using the IND's Residence Wizard.
If you wish to stay for a shorter period than 90 days in the Netherlands, you may require a visa based on the Schengen Agreement. The website of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists the foreign nationals to whom the visa obligation applies. You apply for the visa from the Dutch embassy or consulate in your country of residence. The visa will permit unrestricted travel in all countries implementing the Schengen Agreement.
Registering at the local municipal authority
If you intend to remain longer than 4 months in the Netherlands, you must be registered in the Municipal Personal Records Database (Gemeentelijke Basisadministratie, GBA) of the municipality where you live. You must register within 5 days of arriving in the Netherlands or – if you are not from an EEA member country or Switzerland – immediately after you receive your residence permit. If you leave the Netherlands again for longer than 8 months, you must deregister from the municipality. You can deregister up to 5 days before your departure.
